Sherry’s Corner

Being Chased by Columbo was like being Nibbled to Death by a Duck!

When we lost the gentle “Basset-Hound-friendly” Peter Falk we lost one more special friend to animals.  The late actor is said to have had ten dogs.  I am sure they are now curled up on his rumpled trench coat dreaming of the day when they will be reunited.  DOG, his famous Basset Hound, even appeared with him from time to time in Columbo episodes.  And his wife Shera was filmed in a Barbara Walters interview on the VIEW feeding fish food to Lucchia, one of their dogs.  Falk was once bitten by a dog when he was searching at a shelter for a another companion.  The facial bite almost injured his left eye.  Falk’s response was to try to adopt the dog. “He will be a perfect guard dog”, he is reported to have said. 

SPEAKING OF DOG BITES—DON’T THROW OUT MY BROWN STRAW BROOM! I don’t know how many people, both family and friends, have taken my brown raggedy straw broom out to the curb.  I, of course, drag it back into the house to rest where it awaits any crisis of aggression.  After all, it has a firm pole and the stitching still holds.  The bristles are dangerously sharp if uneven.  Only behaviorist Gary Wilkes appreciates this treasure and its usefulness in a dog fight.

      Wilkes writes (and I quote since I am not a behaviorist or even one of the many untitled presumed behaviorists–and there are many, too many!), “Make sure you do not use a broom that has sharp, plastic corners. When the fight erupts, stick the straw part of the broom between the combatants and try to firmly separate them.  Do not whack or strike them with the broom so that the straw becomes the vertical barrier between them.  Keep the barrier between the dogs so the most they can do is bite the straw.  Pretend you are playing a form of pup-hockey and try to scoot them away from each other.  They can’t remain aroused forever and within a few seconds should return to semi-normal.” So far in this house, bites –broom 3, me 0.

      LYME DISEASE AND LYMPH NODES. The latest research on Lyme disease notes that swollen lymph nodes are the main symptom.  It seems that B.burgdorferi hinders the immune system from protecting the body.  The search for medications to prevent Lyme is ongoing.  Consult your veterinarian. 

      The cost of caring for and keeping your dog safe is often hard to budget.  Dr. Nancy Kay offers her clients multiple medical options.  She says that “many choose the less expensive route of EMPIRICAL THERAPY (providing treatment without certainty of what the underlying medical issue is) rather than performing diagnostic testing.” dr.key@speakingforspot.com

800 PET ADOPTATHON IN JOPLIN. The Pennsylvania PSART teams have been invited to participate in the adoptathon in Joplin, Missouri.  For those of you who want to help animals in disasters both home and across the country the path lies through membership in the local volunteer animal response teams open to the public. Locally you will have the opportunity to join with others in training and exercises. For the Joplin effort travel expenses, meals and lodging were arranged and paid for by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). The Joplin effort combines the efforts of PetSmart Charities and Mars Petcare with the ASPCA–all three are members of the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition.  The rescued animals have been decontaminated, vaccinated, dewormed and treated with flea medication.

The Internet Doesn’t Have the Important Information

They need to have a mosquito repellant for cars and trucks! “There was a cloud of mosquitoes surrounding my truck,” my friendly vet told me.  “They followed me into the yard attracted by the heat of the vehicle!”  And so do treat your dog for heartworm (mosquito) protection.  Although trucks and cars aren’t afflicted with heartworm, dogs are–especially in Pennsylvania, one of the leading states reporting heartworm.  Another caution–try not to walk or exercise your dog early at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most frequent fliers.  And have your dog tested for heartworm exposure at 6 to 7 months after a good hard frost or when your veterinarian feels its appropriate.  Remember, however–”Lack of regular testing and testing at the wrong time of the year may lead owners and veterinarians to miss heartworm infection.” If it is any consolation, according to the just released Banfield report, dental problems and obesity along with ear problems were more frequently treated than heartworm infection. Also note that the “tornado dogs”, the southern strays being imported to local shelters, could be and probably are heartworm carriers.  Today there is no long a free dog and samaritans must have very deep pockets!

      SAD to have Jesse Smith no longer heading up the enforcement of puppy mill abuse.  This lady, who could have been a Vogue cover, wore steel gloves and a royal-wedding-worthy-white hat when it came to helping our less fortunate Pennsylvania canines.  We knew there was a movement in the Corbett administration to relax enforcement in the name of economics, but hoped it did not mean the sacrifice of the people in the white hats.

      With the kitchen warning of salmonella dangers in feeding our pets in that area one has to wonder if Chef Michael will continue his commercials and what kind of image Milo’s Kitchen dog meatballs will enjoy?  I am surprised no one has developed a “healthy pet feeding educational plan for children.” Measure the food and avoid treats to avoid obesity.  Wash hands after touching the food and know what you are feeding, i.e., read the ingredients on the container.  Also, from the garden–carrots and green beans!  And, due to all the moisture this spring it pays to know where the wheat and other grains in our pet food originate.  If we have a head scab danger in central Pennsylvania perhaps we need to know more about ingredients.

      According to the most recent AKC Gazette Dottie Davis has achieved national fame as the CANDY LADY!  Davis and her tupperware containers of candy at ringside has sweetened many a judge, not too mention spectators and exhibitors at our local shows. 

      The Animal Recovery Teams or CARTS now have a new temporary sheltering policy.  In instances in which volunteers are called upon to assist in recovery and rescue of animals the group may provide temporary sheltering.  This should be a help for the often overtaxed Red Cross and could include house and barn fires.

      Breed profiling can be a two-way street!  That problem behavior can be the result of the DNA.  Thus farm dogs or herding breeds get a free pass in Pennsylvania if they bite or attack either man or beast, live on 20 acres, and have an owner with an annual farm income of $2,000! And, of course, war dogs are usually chosen from specific breeds.  Now that Governor Corbett has chosen two Airdales (brother and sister) to be family members we have pause.  The last Airdales to earn public office were owned by the infamous President Warren Harding.   

      Listened to a talk by a veterinarian on zoonoses–great idea, bad talk.  She ignored canine flu, which does not discriminate when it comes to species and loves a crowded venue.  She also advocated using the Internet for information.  One has to wonder about a vet who would rather have you do an Internet search than talk to you about your pet’s problem!  The most important information is mine–and the important vet question, ”why are you here?” 

Don’t Feed Your Pet in the Kitchen

      If you feed your dog and cat in the kitchen–a tradition in most pet homes-then you and your family are flirting with possible salmonella contamination. Your kitchen can be dangerous to your health and the health of your pets, says Dr. Kate KuKanich in a recent nutritional article in JAVMA. Salmonella can be present not just in pet food bowls, but pet foods and even treats, vitamins, and nutritional supplements! A dangerous place of cross-contamination for children and the elderly! And, although humans don’t regard pigs ears as a treat, pigs ears are uncooked and we do handle them.  51% of pigs ears have been found to be contaminated with salmonella.  Pet treats containing dried beef were found to be responsible for human illness in a 2002 outbreak; in 2006 there was an outbreak of both contaminated dog and cat food produced at a plant in Pennsylvania in a process designed to enhance palatability–crossing 21 state lines! Vitamins and nutritional products can also become contaminated during production.  In 2010 a nutritional product for joint health had to be recalled.  Other contaminated products include multivitamins, ear powder, glucosamine, a fresh breath treatment and calming tablets.

      What to do?  Pets should be fed in a room other than the kitchen to minimize cross-contamination of pet food and food intended for human consumption.  Use a scoop or a cup to remove food from bags and clean routinely. Wash hands after feeding pets and all contact with pet food or pet treats.  Purchase individually packaged pigs ears rather than those from bulk bins. Store dry food in its original bag placed inside a plastic container to provide extra protection.  And, save the date code and product code of all food products for identification in case contamination is suspected.  

      Finally, although uncooked, raw foods are usually the cause of food illness (for example, the recent e-coli outbreak in vegetables in Europe). Raw meat in either homemade or commercial pet diets should be avoided and it must be remembered that pigs ears are not cooked.  Canned food, although considered safe, when opened are also susceptible to contamination from the environment. And then, suppose your pet is being medicated?  This could also add to the environmental contamination threat.

      Also important–the late Job Michael Evans (How To Be Your Dog’s Best Friend) discouraged feeding dogs in the kitchen because he felt it caused behavior problems. Dogs quickly learned to become food-territorial.  Another reason to avoid the kitchen as a dog dining area!  The crate is, of course, the preferred spot for a dog to enjoy his or her meal without feeling threatened.

My dogs race toward their crates when they see the food dishes are ready to be served!   

      I enjoy a special food area for preparing my dogs’ meals.  It has a sink close by with both soap for dishes and a hand sanitizer.  The preparation table also has a small stairs so that puppy Ben can climb up and supervise

After all, there is always a spoon that needs to be licked!  

More on Military Dogs, Hospice Care, Puppy Lemon Law; Using L-Carnitine

MORE ON MILITARY DOGS. A monument will be erected at Fort Belvoir, Virginia near the National Museum of the United States Army to honor dogs who served in World War II to the present.  The design is a granite history wall.

MORE ON HOSPICE CARE. The AVMA board has approved revisions to the “Guidelines for Veterinary Hospice Care”.  The guidelines now state that veterinarians who do not offer hospice services should be prepared to refer clients to a veterinarian who does.     

PUPPY LEMON LAW EXTENDED TO LIMPING DOGS?  Senator Greenleaf has introduced two changes to the existing Puppy Lemon Law.  The changes would extend the puppy purchaser’s right to reimbursement for incurable as well as curable illness.  HIP DYSPLASIA WOULD BE COVERED!  If SB 27 passes the veterinarian would only need to find “a significant adverse effect on the health of the animal”!  SB 27 has wide support. 

FROM THE GYM TO THE KENNEL. L-Carnitine is a supplement beloved by athletes for turning fat into muscle by oxidating fat.  It can be purchased in health stores and even over the counter at grocery pharmacies–where I purchase it.  Weis carries the Sundown label and L-Carnitine is a “buy” when a BOGO is in effect.  I give my dogs one tablet a day (500 mg) since the vet has proclaimed they are “chunky” and I assume she doesn’t mean “muscular”!!  I have noticed L-Carnitine as an ingredient in many diet pet foods, both dog and cat, and even on the label of doggy dental rinses.  Now we also have Quinicarn, a new L-Carnitine supplement for dogs and cats produced by the Nutramax  Laboratories as a liver health and wellness product. Quinicarn comes in 250 mg packets and is chicken-flavored.  My Springers have their Sundown tablets smothered in cheese whiz and seem to enjoy their one-a-day dose  that way. Since the Spaniels are a chunky 50 pounds you should consult your veterinarian as to the weight-correct dosage for your dog–and in fact this is always a wise first step in giving a pet any medication or supplement.